Friday Prayer

Abu Huraira reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “We are the last, yet we will be the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, though they were given the Scripture before us. This was their day that had been prescribed for them, but they differed about it. Allah guided us to it, and the people follow us in this matter: the Jews have theirs tomorrow, and the Christians the day after.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “When one of you comes to Friday prayer, let him perform a ritual bath.”

Ibn Umar reported that while Umar ibn al-Khattab was standing during the Friday sermon, a man from among the early Emigrants and companions of the Prophet entered. Umar called to him, “What time is this?” He replied, “I was occupied, and I did not return home until I heard the call to prayer. I did no more than perform ablution.” Umar said, “Ablution too? You know that the Messenger of Allah used to command us to perform a ritual bath.”

Abu Saeed al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Taking a ritual bath on Friday is obligatory for every adult.”

Amr ibn Sulaym al-Ansari said, “I testify concerning Abu Saeed, and he testified concerning the Messenger of Allah, who said: Taking a ritual bath on Friday is obligatory for every adult; one should also clean the teeth and apply perfume if available.” Amr added, “I testify that the bath is obligatory. As for cleaning the teeth and applying perfume, Allah knows whether they are obligatory or not, but that is how it appears in the hadith.” Abu Abdullah said: “He is the brother of Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, and this Abu Bakr was not named. Bukair ibn al-Ashajj, Saeed ibn Abi Hilal, and others transmitted it from him. Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir was known by the kunyahs Abu Bakr and Abu Abdullah.”

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever takes a bath like the bath required after major ritual impurity on Friday and goes early has offered a camel; whoever goes in the second hour has offered a cow; whoever goes in the third hour has offered a horned ram; whoever goes in the fourth hour has offered a chicken; and whoever goes in the fifth hour has offered an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels attend and listen to the remembrance.”

Abu Huraira reported that while Umar was delivering the Friday sermon, a man came in. Umar said, “Why have you kept yourself from the prayer?” The man replied, “I only heard the call to prayer, then performed ablution.” Umar said, “Did you not hear the Prophet say that when one of you goes to Friday prayer, he should perform a ritual bath?”

Salman al-Farsi reported that the Prophet said, “A man who bathes on Friday, cleanses himself as thoroughly as he can, applies some of his oil or perfume from his household, then goes out without separating two people, prays as much as has been prescribed for him, and listens quietly when the imam speaks will be forgiven for what occurred between that Friday and the next.”

Tawus said that he told Ibn Abbas that people report the Prophet said, “Bathe on Friday, wash your heads even if you are not in a state of major ritual impurity, and apply perfume.” Ibn Abbas replied, “As for bathing, yes; as for perfume, I do not know.”

Ibn Abbas mentioned the instruction of the Prophet to take a ritual bath on Friday. I asked Ibn Abbas, “Should one apply perfume or oil if his family has some?” He replied, “I do not know of that.”

Ibn Umar reported that Umar ibn al-Khattab saw a fine silk garment by the mosque door and said, “Messenger of Allah, why do you not buy this and wear it on Friday and when delegations come to you?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Only one who has no share in the Hereafter wears this.” Later, some garments of the same kind were brought to the Messenger of Allah, and he gave one to Umar. Umar said, “Messenger of Allah, you have given this to me, although you said what you said about the garment of Utarid.” The Messenger of Allah replied, “I did not give it to you to wear.” Umar then gave it to a polytheist brother of his in Mecca.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Were it not that I would impose hardship on my community—or on the people—I would have ordered them to use the toothstick before every prayer.”

Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “I have spoken to you often about using the toothstick.”

Hudhaifa reported that when the Prophet got up at night, he would clean his mouth with the toothstick.

Aisha reported that Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr came in with a toothstick and was using it. The Messenger of Allah looked at him, so I asked, “Give me that toothstick, Abd al-Rahman.” He gave it to me, and I broke it and chewed it, then gave it to the Messenger of Allah. He used it to clean his teeth while reclining against my chest.

Abu Huraira reported that on Friday, during the dawn prayer, the Prophet would recite “Alif Lam Mim. The Revelation” (Surah al-Sajdah) and “Has there come upon man” (Surah al-Insan).

Ibn Abbas said, “The first Friday prayer held after the Friday prayer in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah was in the mosque of Abd al-Qays at Juatha in Bahrain.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Each of you is a shepherd.” Yunus added that Ruzaik ibn Hukaim wrote to Ibn Shihab, while I was with him at Wadi al-Qura, asking, “Do you think I should hold Friday prayer?” Ruzaik was an administrator over land he cultivated, where a group of Sudanese and others lived; at that time he was in Ailah. Ibn Shihab wrote back, as I heard, instructing him to hold Friday prayer. He told him that Salim had related that Abdullah ibn Umar said he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is a shepherd in his household and is responsible for his flock. A woman is a shepherd in the home of her husband and is responsible for her flock. A servant is a shepherd over the property of his master and is responsible for his flock.” He said, “I think he also said that a man is a shepherd over the property of his father and is responsible for his flock. Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”

Ibn Umar reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “Whoever comes to Friday prayer, let him take a ritual bath.”